'Unusuals' debut all too typical for ABC

UPDATE: Idol climbed to an 8.0; everything else stayed within a tenth of its prelim. 

EARLIER: Last night ABC fired its last shell of the season with the series premiere of The Unusuals, a police dramedy that received all-too-typical numbers in line with the network's other midseason efforts.

The Unusuals (6.8 million viewers, 2.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) was the network's lowest-rated drama series premiere of the season and fell 41% from its Lost lead in. The opener follows the middling premieres of several lighthearted new ABC shows, including Cupid, Better Off Ted and In the Motherhood. The network's other investigative dramedy, Castle, has shown the most ratings spark, demonstrating a degree of sturdiness on Monday nights.

After one episode, it's far too soon to call a verdict on The Unusuals, (the reviews were mixed) but ABC was doubtlessly hoping for a number that rose above its other recent premieres. The network pointed out that the show improved on Life on Mars in the hour, bringing the most viewers to the slot since October (and up 21% from regular series programming in the hour).  

Fox won the night with Lie to Me (8.4 million, 2.5) nearly unchanged from last week, followed by American Idol (22.4 million, 7.8) -- off slightly to match its Wednesday season low.

CBS was second in the demo, with very on par editions of The New Adventures of Old Christine (7.3 million, 2.1), Gary Unmarried (7.3 million, 2.2), Criminal Minds (13.3 million, 3.2) and CSI: NY (12.5 million, 3.3).

ABC came in third with Scrubs (4.7 million, 1.8) and Better Off Ted (4.2 million, 1.7), followed by a series low Lost (8.3 million, 3.7) and Unusuals.

NBC had a repeat leading into the season (and likely series) finale of Life (4.5 million, 1.3), then another repeat. The CW had America's Next Top Model (3.7 million, 1.7) and a clip show.